A  Visit  to  the  Homeland  of 
Washington's  Ancestors, 


DA 
67C 
N7V8 


Copyright,  1910,  by  Peter  Henderson  &  Co..  New  York. 


UCSB    LIBRARY 


A  VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND 

OF 

WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


With  compliments  of 

Peter  Henderson  &-  Co. 

35  and  37  Cortlandt  Street,   New  York 


A   VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF  WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


IN  our  world  wide  wanderings  to  keep  in  touch 
with  the  best  and  newest  in  plant  life  produc- 
tion, we  often  find  ourselves  unusually  environed, 
sometimes  pleasantly,  sometimes  otherwise. 
We  recall  an  experience  not  many  years  ago  when 
Asia  Minor  flower  bulbs  were  becoming  known; 
the  large  and  beautiful  Snowdrops,  Chinodoxas, 
Colchicums,  etc.,  of  various  Taurus  Mountain 
types,  we  wanted  to  investigate  these  in  their 
natural  haunts,  but  the  route  was  so  infested 
with  brigands  that  our  Consul  advised  against 
travelling  unprotected  and  secured  for  us  a 
guard  of  Turkish  Soldiers.  Nothing  happened, 
but  it  was  an  unusual  experience  that  would  have 
been  pleasant  if  anxiety  could  have  been  elimi- 
nated. Many  other  little  episodes  of  our  travels 
could  be  related  that  might  make  interesting 
reading. 

Perhaps  our  most  interesting  and  pleasant 
trip  was  made  last  season  when  we  visited 
England  particularly  to  study  the  latest 
varieties  of  the  magnificent  new  race  of  "  Spen- 
cer "Sweet  Peas.  The  officers  of  the  National 
Sweet  Pea  Society  gave  us  a  cordial  reception 
and  honored  us  with  an  appointment  as  judge  at 
their  big  exhibition  held  in  Royal  Horticultural 
Hall,    London    and    a    Vice-president    of    their 


Society.  We  were  given  every  opportunity  to 
study  the  numerous  varieties  of  Sweet  Peas  in 
commerce  and  many  others  not  yet  introduced, 
all  being  well  grown  and  in  fine  flower  at  their 
official  trial  grounds  near  Reading,  England. 

At  the  exhibition  we  met  Mr.  Silas  Cole  with 
whom  the  first  of  the  "  Spencer  "  type  Sweet 
Pea  originated  and  made  an  appointment  to 
visit  him  at  Althorp  Gardens  on  the  Estate  of 
Earl  Spencer  in  Northamptonshire,  of  which 
Mr.  Cole  is  superintendent.  While  there  we 
discovered  that  we  were  in  the  homeland  of 
Washington's  ancestors.  The  coincidence  was 
so  impressive,  we  tarried  a  day  or  two  longer 
getting  a  few  photographs  and  collecting  a  little 
Washington  information  amid  the  scenes  and 
environment  of  the  forefathers  of  America's 
father.  Some  of  which  we  publish  herewith  as 
found,  without  attempt  at  verification. 

Northamptonshire  is  a  midland  county  in 
what  is  called  "  The  Heart  of  England."  It  is 
particularly  interesting  to  Americans  because 
several  personages  prominently  identified  with 
our  Republic  in  its  early  days,  were  descendants 
of  midland  ancestors.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  sections  in  England. 

Our  motor  trips  impressed  us  with  the  charm 


.4    \1SIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF  WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


of  this  rich  pastoral  country.  Broad,  hard,  well 
kept  highways  wind  over  low  rolling  hills  afford- 
ing a  succession  of  picturesque  views.  Valley- 
meadows  of  sunny  green,  are  populous  with  fat 
cattle,  sleek  horses  and  prize  sheep  grazing  or 
lolling  among  elm,  oak  and  other  stately  trees 
which  dot  the  landscape  An  occasional  shepherd 
with  his  chum — a  collie — and  a  field  of  yellow- 
ing grain  being  harvested  by  sturdy  yoemen 
adds  an  old  world  touch  to  the  picture.  Lordly 
trees  line  the  roadside  and  cast  grateful  shade. 
Hedgerows  of  luxuriant  green  brightened  by  wild 
flowers  and  alive  with  song  birds  also  border 
the  roadways  and  divide  the  fields,  blending 
distantly  into  dark  copses  and  a  mass  of  varied 
sylvan  beauty,  which  almost  hides  from  view 
quaint,  substantial,  typically  English  houses, 
though  the  towering  spires  of  churches,  for  which 
this  "  shire  "  is  famous  punctuate  the  skyline 
here  and  there  and  compose  pleasingly  into  the 
panorama. 

One  can  scarcely  realize  that  this  earthly 
paradise,  apparently  blessed  with  all  things  that 
go  to  make  life  worth  living;  peaceful,  bountiful, 
beautiful,  was  for  centuries  a  scene  of  turmoil  and 
strife,  the  disturbing  factors  being  covetousness 
and  religious  fervor.     There  are  evidences  here 


of  life  and  war  even  before  history  was  recorded. 
Diggings  for  various  purposes  having  unearthed 
numerous  weapons  and  implements.      Stone  and 
bone    articles,    hand   made   pottery,    querns   for 
grinding  grain,  portions  of  primitive  looms,  etc. 
as  well  as  bones  of  various  animals  and  man  of 
the    roundheaded,    strong   jawed    race    (brachy- 
cephalic)  which  according  to  archaeologists  belong 
to    the    pre-historic    iron    or    Celtic    age.      For 
hundreds  of  years  thereafter,  following  the  data 
of  recorded  history,  we  learn  that  this  country  was 
intermittently  over  run  with  foreign  adventurers. 
Various    Teutonic    (German)    tribes    apparently 
started  the  wave  of  invasions.     Jutes  from  what 
is  now  a  section  of  Denmark  conquered  and  con- 
trolled this  portion  of  Britain   for  many  years. 
Then   came   the   Angles   from    North   Holland— 
from   whom    England    derives   its   name    (Latin 
Anglia,   A.   S.    Engla-land).      Soon   after  Saxons 
from  Germany  arrived  in  large  numbers.     These 
peoples,    all   long   heads    (dolichocephalic)    after 
years  of  conflict  fused  in  the  common  canst-  of 
opposing    the    Norman    and    Roman    invaders. 
They    were    then    termed    Anglo-Saxons   which 
name   this   collective   race   of  long   headed   man 
has     ever     since     borne.     These     long     headed 
Anglo-Saxons,    though  subdued   and  dominated 


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A    VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF   WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


for  about  two  centuries  first  by  the  Normans  and 
then  by  the  Romans  eventually  won  out,  threw 
off  the  yoke  and  have  ever  since  been  known  as 
the  "  all  conquering  race."  Long  contact, 
hi  nvt'ver,  with  various  continental  peoples  of 
differing  religious  faiths  caused  much  discussion 
and  warmth  of  argument,  and  when  the  inven- 
tion of  printing  enabled  the  bible  to  be  more 
widely  read  the  spirit  of  controversy  became  more 
acute  and  aroused  much  bitterness  of  feeling, 
differences  of  opinion  often  disrupting  families. 
We  will  not  go  further  into  ecclesiastical  details, 
merely  touching  upon  this  matter  because  this 
section  of  England  was  one  of  the  hotbeds  of 
religious  foment  and  at  a  time  when  we  have  our 
earliest  knowledge  of  George  Washington's 
ancestors.  The  intolerance  of  the  period  having 
much  to  do  with  the  immigration  to  America 
of  many  families  from  this  section  who  helped 
shape  the  destinies  of  young  America  and 
have  left  the  impress  of  their  character  with 
us. 

The  Washington  pedigree  is  too  long  to  be  gone 
into  chronologically  here,  but  it  is  interesting  to 
know  that  our  first  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
family  begins  in  the  11th  Century,  when  it 
appears  not  unusual  for  a  family  to  assume  the 


name  of  the  estate  acquired  for  a  William  de 
Hertburn  during  that  period  moved  into  the 
manor  and  village  of  Wessynton,  the  family  then 
being  known  as  the  De  Wessyngtons.  One 
genealogist  goes  back  of  this  stating  the  family 
descended  from  the  hero  King  Odin  of  Scan- 
dinavia. This  may  be  imaginative  but  consider- 
ing the  early  settlement  of  this  portion  of  England 
by  Northern  Teutons  it  is  quite  possible. 

The  next  Washingtons  that  we  know  of  were 
the  John  Washingtons  of  Lancashire,  grand- 
father and  grandson  in  the  14th  Century,  they 
were  of  the  good  sound  yoeman  stock  that  has 
played  so  large  a  part  in  the  making  of  England 
and  all  in  the  world  that  bears  the  stamp  of 
English  genius  and  character.  From  these  de- 
scended a  Lawrence  (Laurence)  Washington,  who 
was  elected  mayor  of  Northampton  in  loo 2  and 
again  in  1545.  He  appears  to  have  been  one  of 
the  brightest,  most  prosperous  and  influential 
of  the  English  Washingtons.  His  mother  was 
Margaret  Kitson  (Kytson)  a  sister  of  Sir  Thomas 
Kitson,  a  princely  merchant,  whose  daughter 
married  Sir  John  Spencer.  Lawrence  Wash- 
ington was  therefore  related  to  the  Kitsons  and 
connected  by  marriage  to  the  Spencers — two  of 
the  richest   and  most  prominent  families  in  this 


A    VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF   WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


Section  of  England.  Sheep  farming  and  wool 
was  the  important  industry  of  Northamptonshire 
during  this  period.  The  Spencers  had  immense 
flocks — tradition  placing  the  number  of  sheep 
near  20,000.  Lawrence  Washington  dealt  in 
fleeces  which  were  sold  to  the  manufacturing 
centres  in  England  and  exported  to  Flanders — 
the  wool  market  of  England.  He  became  rich 
so  rapidly  that  between  his  terms  of  Mayorality 
he  purchased  the  Sulgrave  estate  and  after- 
wards other  properties  which  were  thrown  on 
the  market  by  the  disruption  of  the  monasteries. 
His  powerful  "  friend  at  Court  "  Sir  John  Spencer 
and  Dr.  Layton,  then  rector  of  Brington  and  one 
of  Cromwell's  commissioners  for  the  dissolution 
of  Monasteries — no  doubt  removed  any  difficulties 
in  his  obtaining  a  grant  of  the  alienated  lands  of 
the  Priory  of  St.  Andrew.  Thus  he  raised  him- 
self from  the  rank  of  tradesman  to  that  of  a 
wealthy  squire  in  this  "  shire  of  spires  and 
squires." 

We  dwell  upon  this  branch  of  the  Washington 
family  because  this  Lawrence  was  the  direct 
ancestor  of  our  George  Washington,  he  raised  a 
large  family,  his  sons  and  many  of  his  male 
descendants  became  men  of  note — one  a  member 
of  parliament,  another  was   knighted,    etc.      For 


some  unexplained  reason,  probably  pecuniary, 
the  Sulgrave  properties  eventually  passed  from 
possession  of  the  Washingtons  and  they  appear 
to  have  been  for  a  time  in  troubled  circumstances. 
At  this  crisis  the  steadfast  friendship  and  patron- 
age of  the  Spencers  served  them  well.  The 
original  Spencer  manor  house  at  Wormleighti  >n 
was  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Robert  and 
Lawrence  Washington  (grandsons  of  the  Mayor) 
for  a  season  until  a  house  could  be  built  for  them 
at  Brington  the  village  entrance  to  the  Althorp 
estate  of  the  Spencers.  Their  history  while  at 
Brington  seems  somewhat  obscure,  but  Robert, 
grandson  of  the  mayor,  died  without  issue  in 
1622.  A  tablet  to  his  memory  is  still  to  be  seen 
at  Brington  Church  showing  the  true  Washingti  >n 
Coat  of  Arms  from  which  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
are  supposed  to  have  originated.  Lawrence 
Washington  the  other  brother  raised  a  large 
family,  three  of  his  sons  attaining  distinction, 
the  first  became  Sir  William  Washington  and 
married  the  sister  of  the  Duke  of  Buckingham 
The  second  became  Sir  John  Washington  and 
the  third  Reverend  Lawrence  Washington  who 
suffered  for  his  loyalty  to  the  Royal  cause,  his  son 
John  emigrated  to  America  in  1657  and  became 
the  grandfather  of  General  George  Washington. 


'  ^-l^lff^^ 


SULGRAVE  MANOR.  The  manor  house  was  built  by  Lawrence  Washington,  Mayor  of  Northampton  and  direct 
ancestor  of  our  George  Washington.  The  picture  shows  the  house  as  it  now  appears  probably  only  a  portion 
of  the  original  structure. 


A  STREET  IN  BRINGTON.     The  home  village  of  several  generations  of  Washingtons  and  the  village  entrance  to 
Althorp  Park,  the  home  of  the  Spencers  who  were  staunch  friends  and  patrons  of  the  Washingtons.  ,0 


A  GLIMPSE  IN  ALTHORP  GARDENS  where  the  beautiful  race  of  "  Spencer  "  Sweet  Peas  originate!  and   Mr. 
Silas  Cole  their  originator.  ,- 


A    VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF  WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


17 


LOCATIONS  OF  THE  ENGLISH  ANCESTORAL    HOMES    OF    SEVERAL    MEN    HONORED 
FOR    THEIR  ASSOCIATION   WITH   YOUNG  AMERICA. 


It  is  a  unique  fact  that  "  The  Heart  of  Eng- 
land "  Northamptonshire  and  contiguous  terri- 
tory was  the  ancestral  homeland  of  several  men 
prominently  identified  in  shaping  the  early  des- 
tinies of  the  American  Republic.  The  stamp 
of  their  character  and  genius  still  remain  with 
us. 

At  (1)  SULGRAVE,  (2)  NORTHAMPTON 
(3)  BRINGTON  lived  the  ancestors  of  George 
Washington,   whose  story  we   have  just   told. 

(4)  ECTON,  was  the  home  of  Benjamin 
Franklin's  ancestors.  (Chaucer  puts  it  "  Franke- 
lein  ").  They  were  Protestants  and  strong  in 
their  views  and  hostility  to  the  ancient  faith 
so  had  to  conceal  their  Bible,  reading  it  only 
with  a  child  stationed  to  give  notice  if  he  saw 
the  "  Apparitor  ,"  an  officer  of  the  Spiritual 
Court,  approaching. 

(5)  PENN.  William  Penn  was  a  direct  de- 
scendent  of  the  Penns  of  Penn  who  acquired  the 
manorial  rights  from  the  Berkeleys  their  feudal 
associates.  Wm.  Penn's  strong  Quaker  views 
caused  him  to  be  expelled  from  Oxford  University 


and  so  persecuted  for  his  faith  that  he  came  to 
America. 

(6)  CHESTERFIELD.  The  grandfather  of 
Thomasjefferson  author  of  the  American  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  owned  a  small  property 
and  resided  here. 

(7)  STANDISH.  The  ancestors  of  Miles  Stand- 
ish  took  the  patronymic  name  of  this  village  their 
home.  The  family  became  divided  by  the  great 
controversy  between  the  Catholics  and  Prot- 
estants. Miles  in  the  "  faith  and  fury  of  his 
convictions  "  joined  in  the  fight  against  the 
Spaniards  in  Holland  and  became  a  soldier  to 
the  finger  tips,  coming  to  the  point  with  the  rush 
of  a  thunderbolt.  After  the  truce  he  became 
associated  with  the  Puritans  and  came  to  America 
where  his  valor  was  again  put  to  the  test  by  three 
traitorous  Indians  whom  he  got  into  a  room  by 
themselves  and  then  slew  the  lot. 

(8)  SCROOBY,  was  the  home  town  of  Wm. 
Brewster  one  of  the  chief  founders  of  the  Ply- 
mouth Colony  and  Wm.  Bradford  afterwards 
its  governor.      Both  were  converted  to  the  serious 


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A    VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF  WASHINGTON'S  ANCESTORS 


views  of  religion  then  spreading  especially  in  the 
midlands  of  England.  Brewster  organized  the 
Plymouth  Cliurch,  but  persecutions  left  but  few 
adherents  who  had  the  courage  of  their  convic- 
tions and  these  had  to  attend  service  in  secret. 
This  group  finally  endeavored  to  remove  to 
Holland,  but  the  Dutch  Captain  with  whom  they 
had  arranged  to  embark  from  the  port  of  Boston, 
40  miles  from  Scrooby,  is  supposed  to  have  turned 
informer  for  the  Pilgrims  were  captured,  their 
effects  taken  from  them  and  they  were  rendered 
destitute  some  being  imprisoned.  Such  treat- 
ment rankled  so  they  eventually  reached 
America. 

(9)  WILLOUGHBY.  Captain  John  Smith  of 
Pocahontas  fame  was  born  here.  He  joined  a 
Protestant  Company  in  France  to  fight  the 
Spaniards  and  afterwards  was  one  of  the  100 
members  in  the  expedition  resulting  in  the  found- 
ing of  the  Jamestown  Colony  in  Virginia,  out  of 
this  number  54  belonged  to  the  rank  of  gentle- 
men. 

(10)  SUDBURY.  John  Winthrop  the  first 
governor  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  was  born 
at  Groton  Manor  5  miles  east  of  this  town. 
Adam  Winthrop  a  substantial  clothier  of  London 
his  ancestor  obtained  the  Estate  by  RoyalGrant. 


It  formerly  belonged  to  the  Abbots  of  Bury 
"St.  Edmunds."  The  depth  of  feeling  and  im- 
pending crisis  in  political  and  religious  circles 
caused  John  Winthrop  to  sail  for  the  new  world 
with  11  ships  and  a  large  number  of  emigrants. 
They  arrived  in  Salem,  Mass. 

(11)  LONDON.  Roger  Williams  the  founder 
of  the  Providence  (R.  I.)  Colony  was  born  here. 
He  was  also  considerably  affected  with  "Jthe- 
ologitis  ". 

Though  not  in  contiguous  territory  to  the 
English  midlands  it  is  interesting  to  know  the 
English  Ancestral  locations  of  the  following 
notables : 

(12)  WIGCASTLE.  The  Hawthorns  resided 
here.  William  Hawthorn  of  witchcraft  fame  and 
Nathaniel  the  poet  were  descendants. 

(13)  HAYS  BARTON.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
(Ralegh)  favorite  courtier  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
was  born  here.  He  was  evidently  a  handsome 
brilliant  fellow,  fond  of  the  sea  and  exploration. 
Most  expeditions  conceived  by  him,  however, 
including  his  efforts  to  found  a  Colony  in  Vir- 
ginia or  Carolina  proved  abortive  because  it  is 
said  he  was  unable  to  lead  them  personally,  his 
presence  at  court  being  desired  by  the  Virgin 
Queen.      Though    eventually    beheaded    by    the 


.4    VISIT  TO  THE  HOMELAND  OF   WASHINGTON'S  AXfESTORS 


19 


succeeding  regime  he  is  remembered  by  all  who 
eat  potatoes  and  use  tobacco  as  their  discoverer 
and  introducer. 

(14)   DEVONSHIRE.        Henry    Adams,     the 
forefather  of  John  Adams  who  succeeded  General 


George  Washington  as  president  lived  in  this 
South  England  County,  but  broke  up  his  home 
and  sailed  to  America  to  be  rid  of  the  religious 
persecution  that  was  then  making  England 
intolerable. 


4=H=* 


I 


MARTHA   WASHINGTON 

and 

MOUNT  VERNON 


.  N.J.  •  Wiiliimspwt  Pa. 
Ui  Angeles.  Calif.  •  Brantford.  Ontario 
North  Vancouvtr,  British  Columbia 


